Published April 3, 2024
Nearly 49,000 visitors attended MODEX 2024 in Atlanta last month, a record high for the largest international supply chain expo. Tompkins Solutions was one of 1,200 exhibitors at this year’s show, revealing a newly redesigned state-of-the-art booth where we provided live demonstrations of some of the industry’s latest innovations in warehouse automation and robotics.
In addition to exhibiting at the show, Tompkins Solutions’ experts had the opportunity to explore the conference, networking with industry peers and learning more about the latest trends and solutions. Below are their takeaways from MODEX 2024.
Advancements in robotic applications and technologies
One automation solution that is experiencing tremendous growth across the industry is autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). Extremely flexible and versatile, AMRs are now being utilized for pallet movement, picking, packing and sortation, says Quinntin Teeling, account executive at Tompkins Solutions. “I expect this technology to continue to gain a large market share over the next five years,” Teeling adds.
According to Steven Leavengood, senior vice president at Tompkins Solutions, plug-and-play capabilities will also contribute to AMR growth over the next five years, stating that various types of AMRs will be purchased online and easy to install and update. “Some manufacturers will offer direct-to-consumer options with simple tools for setup,” Leavengood adds.
In addition to AMRs, another area ripe for growth is robotic picking, where advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine vision are enabling automated solutions to increase speed and efficiency. “In the past, low pick rates and high costs resulted in long payback periods,” says Teeling. “Now, thanks to these new technologies and advancements in vision systems, today’s solutions are achieving much higher picking rates at a lower cost, making them more attainable for many operations.”
Going global
As competition heats up, we’ll begin to see more players entering the market worldwide. “There’s a strong global presence in the logistics and automation space,” says Teeling. “Companies that never leveraged warehouse automation are looking for ways to incorporate it into their operations to become more competitive.”
Jason Kowalskie, vice president at Tompkins Solutions, is also witnessing this trend. “More companies are entering the automation industry with clones of existing brands,” Kowalskie says. “Many are getting funding and looking to partner their way into the U.S. market with operators.”
Major established brands are also expanding their portfolios, says Leavengood. Rockwell Automation is one example of a large conglomerate that is buying automation firms and creating a new business unit. The industrial automation company recently acquired Clearpath Robotics, the parent company of OTTO Motors, a provider of AMR solutions. “We will see additional firms follow this strategy,” Leavengood adds.
Software as a competitive advantage
As the automation market continues to grow, hardware will become more of a commodity over the next five years, says Leavengood. “Dozens of AMR, conveyor, tote storage and other automation companies will struggle to differentiate themselves. Integrators and suppliers with strong software and great execution will make profits.”
Jason Fishburn, account executive at Tompkins Solutions, shares Leavengood’s sentiment. “Even end users that I spoke to at the booth were directly asking which pieces were commodity, so it’s important for us to highlight the software elements of these solutions, because that’s what sets them apart from the competition.”
While warehouse automation offers many benefits to logistics operations, the ideal solution requires the right mix of people, processes and technology to ensure success. At Tompkins Solutions, we take a holistic view of your entire supply chain and overall business strategy to customize a flexible solution capable of accommodating your evolving needs. Contact us today to learn how we can help you create the optimal solution for your unique requirements and warehouse operations.
